Why were the back benches of the Labour party empty during this debate when the politics of Margaret Thatcher's government were instrumental in the lies, slurs, corruption and cover up of this disaster?

1998: A cabinet re-shuffle saw Peter Mandelson become Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Dr Jack Cunningham become Cabinet Enforcer, and Harriet Harman, Frank Field, Gavin Strang and David Clark relegated to the back benches.

But after a series of high-profile but controversial campaigns - including investigations into Teesside Development Corporation and the cost of Operation Lancet - it appeared Dr Kumar was being left on the back benches.

All I can say now, is that a woman who cannot keep her contentious views to herself even when supposedly governed by collective Cabinet responsibility will surely supply all sorts of trouble for the Prime Minister on the back benches.

Others joined in with suggestions as to how the Labour back benches could be filled with the Woodentops, Dusty Miller, Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble wand Grubb, while the Clangers could whistle in the background.

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